Testosterone Shifts in Men During Pregnancy

What kinds of changes can you expect when you’re about to be a father for the first time? There’s plenty of information out there about how to be a supportive partner and care for your pregnant partner, but what you may not know is that you could go through some physical changes as well. In fact, testosterone levels can drop to as low as one third of normal levels. It’s unclear why exactly this happens, but it could be nature’s way of helping you sympathize with your mother-to-be or a way to help you prepare to be a nurturer for children yourself. And while your testosterone drops, your prolactin levels may rise. Prolactin is the hormone responsible for starting milk production in women. It’s unclear why this happens for fathers—milk production doesn’t actually occur—but it could be another way of preparing men for fatherhood. Read more…